Shipping Cookies

When I write about things like this, I always feel the need to post a disclaimer. This is what I do when I ship cookies, but it isn’t the only way, just what works for me. If you need to tweak it or adapt it a little, feel free. There’s not too many laws in cookie land. Mostly just ideas and experience. We all learn from one another and from trying things.

I’ll try to keep this short.

To pack cookies you will need a few things:

boxes in two sizes, smaller ones to pack cookies in, and another {two to three inches larger around the sides} to pack the boxed cookies in.

I would like to note, I pack differently depending on the occasion. This is what I would call a fancy job. You know, like for gifts and such.

Step 1: Get everything assembled before beginning so you won’t have to get up thirty-eight times while packing. Then, pray. Seriously. This might be the most important step of all.

Step 2: Seal the cookies in cellophane bags to ensure freshness. I heat seal mine, and you won’t believe what I use…a flat iron.

DO NOT PANIC! It’s never been used on hair. It was a repeat Christmas gift. When I was looking into buying a heat sealer, I noticed it’s pretty much the same thing as a flat iron, so I tried it and it worked. The trick is, it has to be the temperature control kind AND you cannot turn it up much higher than 280 degrees.

If you don’t have any spare hair appliances lying around, you can always buy a heat sealer like THIS ONE. There are models in all different price ranges. Pick one that works for you.

Step 3: After the cookies are bagged, it’s time to wrap them with bubble wrap. I’ll just tell now, if you’re one of those people who is stingy with bubble wrap you’re going to have to get over it now. I know it’s expensive, but if you skimp on the wrap and the cookies arrive in a million pieces then it defeats the purpose of bubble wrap period. So, pad those babies well!

I usually wrap mine exactly as shown. Every once in a while, I’ll wrap them individually in bubble wrap bags if I have any around but most of the time I use a roll.

Lay two cookies flat on the bubble wrap face up, fold wrap over them and flip. Place two more cookies on top of those so that they are back to back. Fold those over once more, secure with scotch tape, then make a new packet. The key is to keep the decorated sides from facing. Friction will damage the decoration face to face.

Step 4: Once they are wrapped, place them in a box plate-style, meaning up and down, not stacked. My friend Maryann taught me that. The idea is that without the weight of all the other cookies on top of them, they are less likely to be broken in transit.

Step 5: Gently close the box. Don’t laugh. It may seem perfectly obvious, but you don’t want to be the jerk who smashes two dozen cookies trying to force the box closed.

Step 6: {optional} Decorate the package with labels, stickers, or my new favorite thing, paper tape and labels from Paperjacks on ETSY.

Step 7: Now it’s time to prepare the second box. Begin by padding the bottom. This is butcher paper, but I’ve been known to use packing peanuts, old plastic bags, newspaper and material saved from incoming packages. It’s a great way to save a little money on shipping supplies.

Step 8: Wrap the cookie package in bubble wrap again, center it inside the larger box and fill in the space around it with packing materials. Be gentle but make sure things are packed in tight enough that the box DOES NOT MOVE if you shake it a little.

Step 9: When the cookies are secure inside the larger box, pack the box to the top and gently close. Before sealing, give it a little shake. The box should feel hollow and light. There should NOT be any movement at all.

Step 10: Seal the box with packing tape and you are finally done. Pray again. By the way, I should mention that wrapping cookies pretty much takes forever. This is completely normal, and one of the big reasons I don’t like to ship cookies very often.

As for what service to use, I think it really boils down to personal preference. I’ve used USPS, UPS, and Fex Ex with only one or two mishaps. For my purposes, the post office works well, and I have been mostly pleased.

If you’re a serious shipper, I would recommend Fed Ex or UPS. I know several high volume shippers who use one or the other and they are happy with the service. Personally, I think Fed Ex is a bit pricey, but if that’s a concern, both Fed Ex and UPS offer incentives to frequent customers.

A few more tips on successful shipping:

Use smaller boxes, even if it means multiples. After a certain size {about 12-14 inches} pricing goes from weight to dimension. If you walk in with a 36×36 box you’re going to get an unpleasant surprise at the post office. Trust me.

Start early. It takes way longer than you think it should to pack a box of cookies. Nothing sucks more than the 2:55 post office dash because you started at 2:15.

Don’t be afraid to adapt my suggestions a little. For non-gift cookies, I sometimes omit the smaller box and pack the cookies in a secure center.

Tape larger cookies and cookie pops to a strong piece of cardboard to give it a little extra reinforcement

Save and reuse packing materials

Follow the no-movement rule. If you shake it and things jiggle, add more padding.

check with local businesses that sell products that require packing peanuts and similar materials for their incoming shipments. Usually they are more than happy for you to take them off their hands

AND, if you have a disaster and the package is returned, take photos of the package and do not disturb it anymore than you have to. Take it directly back to the shipper, show them, and file a claim as soon as possible. If the package arrives damaged, tell the recipient to do the same.

So, that’s my spiel on shipping. No major revelations or secrets, just a lot of experience and a pretty good track record. I hope this helps you to get beautiful cookies from place to place in one piece!

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108 comments

This is a wonderful post Callye and so important, thank for taking the time!
I’ve been shipping to Europe for years and it is so important to wrap everything because lets face it though we handle our package with care it may get thrown around in the transit.
I also use Big River Packaging, they have wonderful boxes.I too use mainly USPS, I always ask for delivery confirmation too, it is only 70cents but helps to keep the customer happy as they know cookies are coming and I have a confirmation.
Here is to a successful Cookie Shipping!

Wonderfully done. I also LOVE Uline for shipping materials. Anyone who receives your gift of cookies in the mail is one lucky person!!!

What great information and just in time for Christmas! I have cookies to ship and now I know how:) Also, thanks for the info on the paper tape, heat gun, and macaron boxes. Can’t wait to order some cute packing supplies!

Thank you so much for the great shipping tips, and I love how you decorated the box – simple but so cute and festive. I’m sure anyone who receives your cookies gets SUPER pumped!

It is like you read my mind. I just finished decorating a whole bunch of cookies to send to my Grandma for Chritmas, but I was concerned how they would ship. This tutorial came at the PERFECT time! Thanks so much.

Thanks so much for this Callye! I ship my cookies almost exactly how you described and I’ve only had 1 shipping disaster to date (that was when I tried to put 2 cookies in 1 bag – don’t do that, they all broke). The only difference is that I lay my cookies flat with a sheet of foam between each layer. I’ll have to give your way a try, looks like a great idea!

I am pretty close! I’ll have to try the “plate style”! Looks like a great idea!

As always, thanks for sharing your experiences with us!

BRAVO!!! Seriously great information. Especially the “praying” part. he he I like that. Especially since I am about to launch into the world of scavenger packing material.
Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays whatever may be your preference.

BTW Boxes are constantly “launched” around by the shipping peeps. They love us though.

I have that little Impulse sealer and I LOVE it. Thanks for this information!

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You know what I LOVE about your blog? You always seem to read my mind! 🙂 I have an order I don’t know how to make and all I have to do is look at your blog and there is my answer. Your shipping tutorial could not come at a better time!!! I’m shipping my first order this week! Also, I credited you in that order on my cookie blog…I had a star wars order. 🙂 http://cookiesbyjanis.blogspot.com/2011/12/star-wars-cookies.html

Thanks for this….I just had to ship some items out and I waited for two days on the edge of my seat, chewing my fingernails waiting to hear if it arrived unbroken. This time it did, so I am safe, but I am ALWAYS looking for more tips and tricks! I love how you showed how to stack them like plates…..makes so much sense after the fact 🙂

Awesome, Callye! Thanks for the post! I’ll be sending a lot of people to this one. This is one of my most common questions.

I love this post!!!

Thanks for the tips!
P.S. You’re cookies are amazing. I am a rookie cookie decorator. I made some Christmas cookies for a gift for an office gift swap. People were impressed with my cookies, but yours truly put mine to shame. Love them!

Thanks for the practical info! 6/8 of my munchkins live out of state, so I need all the help I can get in packing cookies:) Love your pretty decorated box, Callye.

Great post Callye! This is the safest way to ship cookies and have only had a cracked cookie or two since doing it (and chances are I cracked the cookie during packing). As you mentioned I can’t confirm strongly enough what you said about the time it takes to properly pack cookies which is the main reason I try to avoid shipping altogether. Added to that, I somehow manage to make a bigger mess in packaging cookies than I do in decorating them. Sanding sugar vacuums up easily….packing peanuts not so much 🙂

This was awesome! You pack like I do! Everyone tells me that their items always arrive perfectly in tack, too! It’s that extra thought that makes the difference. You just can’t take a chance on something you’ve spent time and effort (and money!) on, just to have a box of crumbs when they open it! And you are so right, smaller boxes are WAY less expensive than one huge box! Been there, done that! I always save all my packing parts from things I’ve received……I can’t remember the last time I had to actually buy bubble or peanuts! In fact, at my last garage sale, I sold bags of peanuts, cuz we just had way too many! Thanks for all the great pics, too!

Thanks so much for this, I have always wondered what would be the best way to get my cookies safely to family members in the US

:deep breath: I’m happy to say I use pretty much the same method as you described here. I’ve had a few mishaps, but it was when the inside box didn’t have enough padding around the outside. Otherwise things have been good.

Where do you get your interior boxes? I’ve bought in bulk some 4×4″ which I can get about 6 cookies in, but I need something a bit bigger for larger orders.

Thank you for posting this 🙂 I was wondering if there was any way to improve what I was doing!! 😀

Fabulous tips. Thank you!

Now you need to post a picture taken by the recipient of those cookies to see if this actually worked. 😉

I’ll ask her, but I’m pretty sure it does. I often ship out ten to fifteen packages a month, and so far so good. My first time I lost four cookies. This year I’ve only had three mishaps. One late package, one with breakage but I didn’t follow my own instructions. The worst one was no fault of my own. It went to an fpo address. I swear…swear, someone played football with that one! It took effort to hurt it that badly. I was appalled!

Great post! Never thought about shipping them plate style, but it sounds like a better way for sure. Thanks for the great tips!

Great information, I bet I am still too chicken to even try it.

Thank you so much for this post. I’ve been wondering about shipping and it’s one thing to ship chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies and quite another to ship works of art – and I had no idea how to approach it. Also, I’ve been wondering about how to package cookies individually for other situations too.

hmm…I’m wondering where these were shipped to, maybe some special event happening next week??? I will have to watch and see 🙂 Great tips!!! and of course beautiful cookies Callye!

Cookie swap!!!!!! 🙂

So while I thought these tips and instructions on packing cookies was very helpful, I was EXTREMELY distracted with the pictures of the actual cookies themselves, they are GORGEOUS! Just stunning, would love to be the recipient of a package like that. You are a very talented baker/artist!!!! The instructions really did help though so thanks for that too!

I eat shipping costs EVERY time! From FL to CA it cost approx $15 ground. Now because of the holidays, shipping is slower. I brought in cookies to UPS one to CA, one to MD, $70 and $40 respectively because I was off on arrival dates and had to ship them priority to make it in time for the events. Customerserviceetcbydana – lol!

Gorgeous cookies, gorgeous packaging and helpful hints.. you literaly should be called Super Cookie Woman! 🙂 I think you have accomplished worldwide cookie domination Callye!

Thanks so much for this tutorial! I have only shipped cookies twice–I learned my lesson the first time, when I used tissue paper to separate the cookies inside the first box. And I wondered why they broke…The pictures are very helpful. And, of course, the cookies are beautiful. Someone’s going to love those!

This is a great tutorial. I think the most important part that you’ve mentioned here is to PRAY and PRAY and PRAY. I would love to feel confident in shipping cookies, but the couple times that I’ve shipped cookies to my friends far away, it’s been absolute torture for me. My cookies are so large that getting them all in a box and all lined with bubble wrap is just crazy expensive. I don’t think I’m meant to ship cookies although I really wish I could because it’s such a fun way to show people you care. My friends that have moved away really miss my cookies. I should just bite the bullet and give it a try. It’s so nerve-wracking when you’ve spent SO much time and given so much of yourself for them to be just right, but after all, it’s a COOKIE. I’ll keep trying to tell myself that anyway. I sure appreciate your tutorials. My best friend is in Massachusetts, I really should try to ship her some Christmas cookies.

Most definitely have this “cookie” pinned. — good to know, especially with two boys who just joined the military service.

Thank you for the wonderful tips!. I shared a link to this post on my blog. I’m actively involved with an organization, Baking Gals (www.bakinggals.com), that sends cookies to troops and thought the information would be very beneficial to my readers, as some of them will be participating this month for the first time.

Thank you again, and keep up the great work! I love looking at the cookies you create, they are fabulous!

May I suggest….if you ship alot and have the space to store, packing peanuts and bubble wrap can be purchased on Ebay from suppliers in bulk and $$ saved. This is an excellent tutorial…thank you! I didn’t think about standing the cookies on edge like you do…even in a decorative window box, just turn the box on it’s side and that will take the “pressure” off the layering of the cookies…….as long as the shipper doesn’t try to drop-kick the “FRAGILE” box! LOL
Blessings, Donna B.

Very informative post Callye. I love that you thought to use a flat iron to seal your cookie bags and that it worked! The cookies are beautiful, love the cardinal and the poinsettia! One thing I never do is mark the boxes *Fragile*. Doing so is like a magnet to shipping personnel to *play football* with it. That last sentence is not my opinion, it was told to me by an employee of a shipping company years ago when I was still working!

THANK YOU!! I needed this and what perfect timing! I help out with Icing Smiles and they have now branched out into doing Cookie Smiles. I sent my first set of cookies last month. Lord knows if they made it there in one piece!! And I did not do what you did here, so who knows! Thanks for all your beautiful advice and suggestion and your work is OUTSTANDING!!
Thanks,
Angela Barton

I was SO impressed with how you packaged the cookies you sent me for the baby shower. (Which I still plan to post about..probably after our move in January.) 😉 It will happen.

HAHAHAHA, I know exactly how you feel!!! I’m aLways behind , LOL!

I shipped cookies for the first time a couple weeks ago. Definitely a lot learned. I went to FedEx and they suggested FedEx Express (whichever goes by plane) because on FedEx Ground the packages go on conveyor belts and get dropped and thrown, etc. But are you saying you have done it that way and they’ve been fine? That’s good to know because it is much cheaper. Thanks for all of the tips!

Thanks for the shipping (and ALL your cookie) advice!! Quick question… where did you get your heat seal bags, and what size do you order? I need some cookie bags ASAP! These bags look perfect! Thanks!! <3 Kel

Snug as a bug!

What great information..Learn something new everyday. Thanks for posting this.

I have an order to ship of 4 dozen cookies. Is this how you would recommend shipping that many cookies? They are for a party. Not gifts. Would you still individually put them in bags regardless of the size of the order?

I would ship them in two or three boxes rather than one big one. If you go into dimensional rates, you will get a very unpleasant surprise at the PO. As for bags, I would, jut for the sake of freshness and extra safety!

Either the gusseted or flat both work nicely

Thanks so much for the tutorial. If you don’t mind sharing, how much of a premium do you charge to ship? I saw you use the flat-rate boxes. How long will the cookies stay fresh (assuming they are sealed) after they are bagged? Can you use ground or do you need to overnight them? Thanks for all the tutorials!!

Just thought I would let you know that I figured out how to use an iron to do the same thing. I set it on acrylic/nylon setting (lowest setting on my iron), place the cello bag between parchment paper, count to 15 and voila! A sealed cookie ready to be packaged and delivered! Thanks for all your awesome ideas and inspiration! To a newbie like myself, it means a lot.

YOU ARE AWESOME! Thanks for sharing the tip! I have “wondered” about this often but been too afraid to try!

Hi! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your work, your blog and everything! Thanks for the tips! I lucked out BIG time in the bubble wrap department. I have a friend that is a vertical blinds installer. All of their blinds comes wrapped in perforated bubble wrap sheets, which they just throw out. Before Christmas last year he gave me two HUGE bags full. (clean outdoor leaf bags) I’ve mailed at LEAST 4 boxes a month since November, and I still have a bag and a half left! I would have never thought that would be a good resource!

Sweet Sugarbelle,

I love the packing tips and the heat sealing tips – my favorite is your advice to pray – a lot! I made and shipped 5 little gingerbread houses I pre-assembled, along with various candies, and the powdered icing with mixing instructions, to my aunts in S.D. and I prayed a lot, that they would survive the long trip from California via the hands of government workers – thanks be unto the Lord, it worked! They arrived in tact and my aunts had a lovely time decorating the gingerbread houses- whew! Keep up the good work, your cookies are simply lovely!

I love your ideas.Thanks for the detailed information.It also saves my money by following your tips.hang hole polybags

I Love your blog so much, I think it only took me a couple days to read every tip and trick you had! I couldn’t stop reading and discovering! I love the flat iron tip to seal the cookies- can you post a link to where you find the plastic bags to seal the cookies in? I’ve been looking at a few websites and just don’t know what “weight” or thickness of plastic is best! Thanks!! 🙂

It probably doesn’t hurt to add some Fragile stickers. I shipped a box to HI and my sister said it looked like someone sat on it and the cookies were dust, but the exact same set up I sent to CT arrived in perfect condition.

Im just thinking to start enjoing cookis, up to this time mainly I was dooing gingerbread cookis for Christmas:)) Thanx for tips, just arrived at time cos I have to send small gift to US:))

Just starting enjoying cookis, to this time I was doing a gingerbread for Christmas…. Yours tips arrived just in time cos Im making rady small gift and have to be send cross the water to US:)) Thanx I hope they stay in one pice:))

Have to ship 60 cookies across the state and have NO idea where to start with pricing! Have never shipped this many and can’t imagine how many boxes this will take. Was going to use large Flat rate priority but holy cow that’s going to be expensive.

What’s the most you’ve ever charged for shipping and how in the world do I “guesstimate” the shipping costs so I can get paid??

can i get in on the same question? i have to ship 80 cookies…can’t possibly wrap each in cellophane bags for the customer to have to unwrap to plate them…help!

IT WORKED!!!! 9 dozen cookies shipped. They took me a week to make and each one was individually bagged and ribboned. I baked a few with a piece of cardboard for the ones that had extensions on them. Prior to his my last order arrived with 9 out of 24 broken.
I also used a heavier box for the initial box as I didn’t have shirt boxes. I found that packing peanuts are useless unless you are placing them at the bottom of the larger box. They move around too much and the boxes will shift inside the big box. BUBBLE WRAP and thick butcher paper wadded into corners, is what FED EX recommended. I divided my order into two big boxes. I used FED ex ground. and I am thrill dwith the results. I had a HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE with US Mail at Christmas, I shipped priority mail for 6 orders and 4 arrived late.. one AFTER Christmas when guaranteed by Dec. 20, one was lost. Never again. Fed ex was actually less expensive then the flat rate of the largest priority mail box.

I’m actually still alive

I’m radical and I like to eat pie

Hiiiiiiiiii

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